AGARTALA, Nov 23 (TIWN):Union Minister of Railways, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has assured that the Gauge Conversion of Badarpur-Kumargbat-Agartala sections will be completed shortly and Tripura will come on Broad Gauge map of the country soon.The Minister was speaking at the flag off event of the first passenger carrying train between Silchar and Guwahati through the newly constructed Lumding - Silchar broad gauge section. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu officially flagged off the BG fast passenger train from Silchar to Guwahati via Lumding, Haflong through remote control by organizing a video-conferencing between Rail Bhawan, New Delhi and Silchar Railway station, Assam.The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affaires and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha was specially present on the occasion at Silchar end.

At New Delhi end, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Karim-ganj, Assam Radheshyam Biswas, Member Engineering Railway Board VK Gupta and Member Traffic Railway Board Kundan Sinha were among those present on the occasion. Connection of Silchar by BG railway line would not only benefit the people of Barak Valley, but would lead to the opening of new vistas in connection to the hitherto isolated States of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.The move fulfills the long cherished demand of the people of Barak V alley in south Assam to have a seamless connectivity with the rest of the Nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Suresfi, Prabhakar Prabhu said it is a historic moment for the people of South Assam.The introduction of the new train between Guwahati and Silchar, after conversion of Lumding-Silchar , Metre Gauge line into Broad Gauge, will boost connectivity with rest of the Nation.Goods trains are already running in this section since' March, 2015.More passenger trains will be introduced in the near future, he said.

Suresh Prabhu said that the Indian Railway is committed to improve its infrastructure in the North-Eastern region and pointed out that all the eight sisters of the region are dear to the heart of the people in the country.Rail connectivity to North Eastern States has been made a mission by the Central Government, the Minister said maintaining that the Centre provided an all time high budget allotment of Rs 5200 crores to the projects in 2014-15 which is over 50 percent more than 2013-14 . This tempo has been maintained in 2015-16 also with the provision of Rs 5300 crores, he added.

Suresh Prabhu further assured that the Government of India is working expeditiously to connect all Capitals of North, Eastern States through railways.Earlier this year Itanagar, the State Capital of Arunachal Pradesh was provided connectivity with the National capital through a direct train.

Mega Block for conversion of Badarpur-Kumargbat-Agartala section has been taken with effect from October 1.He said the work is progressing as per target and Agartala is all set to be on Broad Gauge by March, 2016 .The Railways have been commissioning about 133 km Broad Gauge track every year in the North Eastern region for the last 4-5 years.In 2014-15, a record was made when about 450 km of lines were commissioned.

This year too, the Centre is all set to achieve a record of commissioning of about 550 kilometres of Broad Gauge lines in the North Eastern region, he said.